Cape Town — Former Constitutional Court judge, Yvonne Mokgoro, has died in hospital on Thursday evening surrounded by her loved ones, her family confirmed.
Mokgoro passed away at 5pm on Thursday evening after she failed to recover from a car accident in April 2023. She suffered further health setbacks while in hospital and was forced to step away from public engagement. The family released a statement confirming her death, The Citizen reported.
“Our family and the country at large, has lost a principled servant whose commitment to justice will continue to shape our society. We remain grateful to all those who gave her support over the past difficult months, and we ask them to continue to hold the family in their thoughts and prayers,” her son, Ithateng Mokgoro, said.
Mokgoro served as a judge of the Con Court of South Africa from it’s inception in 1994 until the end of her term in 2009, marking 15 years. She played a crucial; role in shaping South Africa’s legal landscape and was considered a pioneer for black members of the judiciary in the democratic era, IOL reported.
She had a prestigious legal career and taught various law courses at a number of universities in South Africa, the United Kingdom, the USA and the Netherlands. She has also written and presented papers and participated in law conferences in South Africa and internationally.
[WATCH] Former Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro has died. She stopped public engagements to focus on her recovery after being seriously injured in a crash last year in April. Judges Matter’s Mbekezeli Benjamin says Mokgoro has had a huge impact on the profession. pic.twitter.com/9OPKYfugwk
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 9, 2024
Tragic news.
Retired ConCourt Justice Yvonne Mokgoro’s family have confirmed her passing in hospital, after a car accident in April 2023.
South Africa has lost truly extraordinary and exceptional woman.
May she rest in eternal peace.
💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/Eb7zowOQPG— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) May 9, 2024
Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, the first black Woman Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa has passed on. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/nd4e3jNWPz
— The Legal Corner South Africa 🇿🇦 (@Legal_corner_) May 9, 2024
Immensely saddened by the passing of Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, a monumental loss to the legal profession and humanity. To her, Ubuntu was not a concept but a way of life. We will miss her in the Council of Social Justice Champions and all the spaces she brought light to. Heartfelt… https://t.co/Xg8lVRm6p1
— Prof Thuli Madonsela #KindnessBuilds (@ThuliMadonsela3) May 9, 2024
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@tumisole
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
